Welcome to Sunday for Sammy, the home of North East talent, past, present and future. Our shows don’t just celebrate the region’s humour, music and creativity, they help fund life‑changing grants and opportunities for young performers through the Sunday for Sammy Trust.
From unforgettable Arena shows where big names share the stage with emerging talent, to the support we give through our grantee programme, everything we do helps the next generation take their first steps in the creative industries.
Whether you’re here to revisit memories from past shows, explore updates from our grantees, find out where you can see us next, or learn more about the work of the Trust, enjoy a look around the site.
Stay connected by signing up to our newsletter for the latest news, opportunities and announcements, and keep an eye on this page and our socials for fresh updates too.
Think you're funny? Fancy your chances at writing a brillliant comedy sketch?
Our Sketch for Sammy competition is now open, find out more and enter below for a chance to get your sketch performed at our Sketch for Sammy night in front of a live audience, you might even get to see it performed at the Arena in our next show!
Join us for a very special night featuring the world's first The 1975 tribute band as they fly in to help us raise funds to support our trust.
Surprise guests just like our famous Arena shows, you never know who you'll see at this fantastic gig.
Tickets selling fast, find out more and grab them below.
Sunday 13th September will be a day full of North East pride as the area gets into Great North Run fever!
Our official Sunday for Sammy team will be running raising funds and now you can too!
We'll have our Bands on the Run stage once again to keep the audience and runners in high spirits.
First held in 2000, the shows feature a galaxy of stars from the worlds of TV, theatre and music. They sell out in minutes, raising funds for creative, talented and enthusiastic young performing artists from the North East.
Past performers have included Auf Wiedersehen Pet's Tim Healy, Kevin Whately, Jimmy Nail, Timothy Spall and Christoper Fairbank, along with Denise Welch, Brendan Healy, Ray Jackson, Charlie Hardwick, Billy Mitchell, Stephen Tomkinson and Jill Halfpenny: while many of the cast appear regularly in the show, the final bill is never made public and surprise guests in recent years have included AC/DC's Brian Johnson and Mark Knopfler.
Space is also made on the bill for some of the young performers who have received financial support from The Sunday for Sammy Trust, giving them a valuable opportunity to share the stage with some of the North East's most high profile entertainers.
Sunday for Sammy... it's THE Geordie command performance!
Aug 5, 2026
The search is on for the North East's next comedy writing talent as the Sunday for Sammy Trust launches its popular Sketch for Sammy 2026 competition and the presentation of the Clement & La Frenais Award For Best Sketch.
The…
Read more
Jun 29, 2026
The Sunday for Sammy Trust has reinforced its commitment to nurturing the North East’s next generation of creative talent by awarding £500 bursaries to ten students at Gateshead College.
The £5,000 initiative recognises the outstanding support Gateshead College has provided…
Read more
Mar 29, 2026
The Sunday for Sammy Trust is delighted to announce that applications are opening for its Spring 2026 round of grants, supporting the next generation of performing arts talent from the North East of England.
The Trust offers financial assistance to…
Read more
Feb 25, 2026
18-year-old Jarrow singer-songwriter Savannah Lily has described performing at this year’s Sunday for Sammy concert as “an absolute honour” after taking to the stage at the Utilita Arena Newcastle in front of more than 5,500 people – twice in one…
Read more
Feb 10, 2026
Ever wondered how Ray Laidlaw producer of Sunday for Sammy and founding member of Lindisfarne spends his weekends?
Do you ever have to work weekends?
Yes I do, I’ve been involved in the entertainment business for 60 years and a…
Feb 6, 2026
More than 50 businesses and organisations from across the North East have pledged their support for the upcoming Sunday for Sammy show, donating goods, services and time to help ensure another unforgettable night in aid of the charity.
The wide…
Read more
Feb 4, 2026
Community Foundation North East has pledged up to £50,000 in match funding to support the Sunday for Sammy Trust (SfS), strengthening opportunities for young people building careers in the performing arts and wider creative industries.
The pledge has been made…
Read more
Feb 4, 2026
We caught up with poet Scott Tyrell, who penned ‘Round Here’, a poem written exclusively for Sunday for Sammy. Find out here how it all came to be, from Scott himself and the incredible journey this poem continues to be…
Read more
Dec 12, 2025
Following on from a surprise visit from our Patron Matty Healy, Gateshead College is set to welcome world-renowned producer and artist Trevor Horn as he visits their Baltic Campus to share his experiences and advice with Performing Arts and Media…
Read more
Dec 12, 2025
Jul 19, 2025
Read moreA SKETCH FOR SAMMY 2025
Are you an aspiring comedy writer? Got an idea you want to shout about? Would you like to see your gags performed on the stage? Then listen up… A Sketch for Sammy is back! Please…
Nov 16, 2022
It has been announced via social media that one of the North East’s most popular entertainment shows, Sunday For Sammy will not go ahead in 2023 but the Trust’s chairman Tim Healy has sent a message of thanks and a…
Read more
Apr 30, 2022
The first Sunday for Sammy event since the hugely successful Newcastle Arena shows in February 2020 is set to raise smiles as four budding comedy writers have their sketches performed at a special show at The Exchange in North Shields.
…
Read more
Mar 30, 2022
Budding comedy writers are about to get the chance to have their sketches performed by a group of leading North East comedy actors at a special show in May.
After a two-year break, Sunday for Sammy is proud to announce…
Read more
May 24, 2021
Sammy Takes A Gap Year...
Following a meeting of our trustees we have agreed that the Sunday for Sammy shows originally scheduled for early 2022 will now be rescheduled for early 2023.
Although the UK Covid lockdown restrictions have been…
Read more
Nov 1, 2020
Funnily enough, The Sunday for Sammy Trust has announced the seven finalists in the 2020 Sketch for Sammy comedy scriptwriting competition' – 'Taalkin Heeds'.
Budding and established comedy writers were asked to submit a short monologue which was then considered…
Read more
Sep 21, 2020
The Sunday for Sammy Trust announce the 2020 Sketch for Sammy comedy scriptwriting competition’ – ‘Taalkin Heeds’.
The Sketch for Sammy comedy scriptwriting competition is back – this time with a new slant. Comedy writers will be asked to submit…
Read more
Aug 14, 2020
Within days of issue of the new 20th Anniversary Sunday for Sammy DVD, funds from the charity have been used to ensure that 18 prospective acting stars of tomorrow get the very best tuition to give them a start in…
Read more
Apr 10, 2020
Sunday for Sammy Team Pay Tribute to Their Driving Force
The Sunday for Sammy family is saddened to hear of the loss of one of their own due to Coronavirus.
Brian Paddison, a great friend, supporter and part of the…
Read more
Nov 27, 2019
With A Confession airing on ITV1 a few months ago, Jonny Lavelle played the role of Marcus Beresford-Smith joining a cast including Martin Freeman and Imelda Staunton, based on a real-life story of the disappearance of Sian O’Callaghan. Earlier this…
Read more
Apr 12, 2018
The DVD of the 2018 Sunday for Sammy Show is being released this weekend, and one lucky buyer will be receiving a very special bonus!
During the show, the cast autographed a logo board as a momento of…
Read more
Oct 30, 2017
Alphabetti Theatre on St James Boulevard, Newcastle is one of the projects Sunday for Sammy champions and we’ve been pleased to support many of the new generation of emerging artists and companies who have written and directed the fantastic…
Read more
Oct 24, 2017
Earlier this year, in conjunction with Curious Monkey, we developed 'Walker Talk', an innovative and inspirational project to introduce young people to all aspects of the performing arts. Here's the story of how it all came together...
…
Read more
Oct 16, 2017
Eeeeeh.... we had a reet hoot at The Stand Comedy Club, Newcastle, Newcastle for the grand final of A Sketch for Sammy 2017.
The sketches in the final were:
- 'Fridge' by Kevin Wilkinson
- 'Muggleswick English Dictionary'…
